Combined lunch bag and napkin cloth



April 22, 1958 c, LEVER 2,831,624

COMBINED LUNCH BAG AND NAPKIN CLOTH Filed March 29} 1954 United States 2,831,624 COMBlNED LUNCH BAG AND NAPKlN CLOTH Kenneth C. Lever, St. Louis, Mo.

Application March 29, 1954,Serial No. 418,320

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-52) This invention relates to a combined lunch bag and napkin cloth wherein the device is folded to make an ample sized lunch bag, and when open serves as a-cloth or napkin to lay food on while eating.

An object of this invention is to provide a combined lunch bag and napkin cloth which may be utilized for carrying the lunch and spreading for forming a napkin and then folding for carrying in a suitable hand bag.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combined lunch bag and napkin cloth which may be used over and over, depending upon the construction and materials used therein.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a lunch bag and napkin cloth which may be constructed of plastic, or the like, for easy cleaning and long lasting qualities.

Yet another important object of this invention is to provide a combined lunch bag and napkin cloth which is simple in construction, efficient in operation, well adapted for its purposes, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being'had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,- wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the lunch bag and napkin cloth of the present invention in use as a lunch bag;

Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 showing the upper end of the combined lunch bag and napkin cloth being open thereby providing access to the interior of the device;

Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of one side of the lunch bag as it is in partially folded condition;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the lunch bag and napkin cloth in condition for use as a napkin; and

Figure 5 is a detailed section taken substantially along section line 55 of Figure 2 showing the details of construction of the folded sides of the device.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral generally designates the combined lunch bag and napkin cloth of the present invention. The combined lunch bag and napkin cloth 10 is constructed by folding a fiat blank of suitable material, as indicated by the numeral 12, in a novel manner, thereby easily changing the fiat cloth which may be used as a napkin to a lunch bag.

The flat piece of material 12 is generally rectangular, substantially in the nature of a square with cut-away portions 14 at each corner thereof. Along one side of the blank 12 is secured a double flap or tongue 16 which is secured centrally to the member 12 and is provided with suitable snap fasteners 18 thereon for a purpose described hereinafter. A pair of fold lines 20 extend across the flat member 12 on equal sides of the center point of intersection of one of the lines 20 and one of the lines- 22 to the inner corner of the cut-out portion 14. This fold line 28 forms two triangular sections 30 at each corner of the blank 12. It will be seen that certainof the triangular sections 30 are provided with apertures 32"and two'of the sections 30 are provided with one: half of a snap fastener 34. The other half of the snap fastener 34 is indicated by the numeral 36 and is posi-. tioned on opposite end sections 24. In assembling the device for use, the side sections and end sections 24 and 26 are folded upwardly along their fold lines, and the triangular members 30 are folded inwardly about the fold line formed by the fold lines 20 and 28 with the fold line 28 extending inwardly in overlapping relation to the end section 24. The portion of the snap fastener 36 extends through the aperture 32 and engages the other portion of the snap fastener indicated by the numeral 34 thereby securing the triangular sections 30 in assembled relation. Snap fasteners 38 and 48 are placed adjacent the upper edges of the end sections 24 and engage each other for closing the open end of the lunch bag 10. The snap fasteners 18 on the end of the flap 16 form a loop as a carrying handle. From observing Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the snap fastener elements 38 and 48 are engaged by bringing the upper edges of the end sections 24 into contacting relation after first folding the upper edges of the side sections 26 inwardly by engaging the fingers with the center thereof and urging inwardly for forming a gable type closure along the fold lines in sections 26. The flap 16 is then bent along the fold line connecting it to the end section 24 into a reversely folded position overlying the outer surface of the other end section 24 whereby the male snap fastener element 48 may be engaged with the female snap fastener element 38 thus retaining the upper end of the container in closed relation substantially as illustrated in Figure 1. After this step is completed, the free ends of the fiap 16, which may be considered straps, are then secured to gether by the snap fastener elements 18 which are disposed on each end thereof thus forming a loop handle whereby the container may be carried by inserting a finger or fingers through the loop handle formed by the strap ends of the flap 16 which are detachably connected together. This construction is illustrated in Figure l with Figure 2 showing the straps being connected to the central portion of the flap 16 and the free ends thereof being disconnected. Obviously, the device may be constructed of suitable plastic or paper, as desired for reuse and washing.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A combined lunch bag and napkin cloth comprising a receptacle having a flexible bottom, side and end walls, foldable overlapping portions extending over the inner surface of the end walls, detachable fastening means retaining the overlapping portions in alignment with the end walls, closure means for retaining the upper ends of the end walls adjacent each other with the upper ends of the side walls being folded inwardly, said bottom, side walls,

end walls and overlapping portions being integrally constructed and adapted to be unfolded into a fiat napkin cloth, said closure means including a flexible flap attached to the upper end of one end wall and folded over and detachably connected to the other end wall when the upper ends of the end walls are disposed adjacent to each other, coacting fastener means detachably securing the flap to the other end wall, said flap including a strap integrally formed with each end thereof and projecting longitudinally therefrom, and detachable fastener means interconnecting the free ends of said straps thereby forming a loop handle. a

2. A combined lunch bag and napkin cloth comprising a receptacle having a flexible bottom, side and end walls, foldable overlapping portions extending over the inner surface of the end walls, detachable fastening means retaining the overlapping portions m alignment with and in engagement with the inner surface of the end walls, a flap flexibly attached to the upper edge of one end wall, coacting fastener elements on the center portion of the flap and on the outer surface of the other end wall adjacent the upper edge forretaining the upper edges of the end walls in adjacent relation with the upper edges folded inwardly therebetween, with the flap overlying the upper edge of the other end wall, said flap including a longitudinal extension on each end of the flap, coacting fastener elements on the end of each extension for forming a handle at the top of the receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 621,824 Kleeman Mar. 28, 1899 692,564 Webb Feb. 4, 1902 774,143 Adams Nov. 8, 1904 1,037,132 Cohen Aug. 27, 1912 1,629,362 Robert May 17, 1927 2,295,508 Altheimer Sept. 8, 1942 2,327,301 Davis Aug. 17, 1943 FGREIGN PATENTS 12,871 Great Britain Sept. 1911 16,517 Great Britain 1913 

